Sermons And Gubbins

Today is National Poetry Day. For the past two years ( 2024 , 2023 ), I've collated a list of the poems written in the last 12 months, and so I've done the same again today! Some of these below have explicit language in - those are clearly noted below if you wish to avoid reading them. Happy reading, and please let me know if you have a favourite? A Conversation with the Boss at 5:26 on a Friday Afternoon  (EXPLICIT LANGUAGE) Out of the Window Time and Tide Haikus  (EXPLICIT LANGUAGE) Vigil The English Abroad Prayer (for Isaac and Miriam) Through the Music Half Life Burning Issues  (EXPLICIT LANGUAGE) Things I Have Regretted Happy Birthday to You Give me my Country back What ( crime) Would Jesus Do?

Today is National Poetry Day. I first put a compilation of my poems over the last twelve months together last year , and thought it would be nice to do the same today!  Each poem should open in a new window/tab so you can come back to this page easily if you like - hope you find something you enjoy, and please let me know if you've got a favourite! November Memories God is Sleeping The Battle / An Evening to Myself / Trauma / Disgust Free Reign Little Wins Promises, Promises Into the Dragon's Lair A Boy's Best Friend It'll Never Catch On Hope Street

Today is National Poetry Day; I thought I’d put together a post collecting my poems written over the last twelve months, each should open in a new window/tab so you can come back to this page easily if you like - hope you find something you enjoy! Manchester   I Would Walk The Breadaholic After the Storm The Body of Christ Best Mates

This poem was written for our Evensong service on 7th October, the week of National Poetry Day 2018. The day was given over to our church's Harvest Festival, and I was reflecting on what we - who no longer plough fields or scatter seed - can bring to the creator of everything, who needs nothing from us. Hope you enjoy... I am not a farmer; I can bring no wheat. I am not a butcher; I can bring no meat. I am not a baker; I can offer no fresh batch. Nor am I a fisherman; I can bring no morning catch. I am not a hunter; I can bring no prey. I am not a potter and can bring no refined clay. I am not a gardener; I can bring no fresh produce. And I am not a fruit picker; I cannot bring first fruits. I am not a cow-herd; I can offer you no milk. I am not a weaver; I can bring you no fine silk. I am not a serving cook; I can prepare for you no meal And I am not a blacksmith; I can forge for you no steel. I am not a miner; I cannot bring you coal. N...

This poem was written as a response to National Poetry Day and the Feast of St Michael (Michaelmas). It's also a delayed follow-up to my Michaelmas sermon from two years ago . I wished to explore some of the things I brought up in that sermon a bit deeper; specifically the elusive nature of Michael's name - it translates as 'Who is like God', and could be interpreted as a question, or a statement. It was read as a sermon at our Evensong service on Sunday 1st October 2017. (Interestingly, I could have simply repeated that sermon word for word - this year, like two years ago, we've recently returned from Menorca, and have also visited the zoo there with Isaac! It's obviously one of our preparations for St Michael's feast...) Anyway... I hope you enjoy, and get something out of reading this (be kind, please...it's my first attempt at religious poetry. I hope it's neither glurge , nor doggerel !) You placed a hand upon my shoulder. “Who i...